Trick Ultra Trik-L-Start

[blevtr]

Got my Trik-L-Start and promptly installed it, just like the Winnebago folks did. The charging LED lit up, while I fiddled around poking around the new used Journey. About the time I closed up the electric compartment lid, the maintaining LED lit up. Happy camper. But - tell the truth, I really want to re-do the mount somewhere where I can monitor my happy little LEDs. I've worried about starting batteries on various RVs for so long, out of sight/out of mind seems.......un-American.

[Snowwing]

If that's the case call me un-American!! Trik-L-Start is the best "bang for the buck" in RV accessories! Mine is in front under the hood. When I iinstalled my first one all the LED's went out once. In a panic I called the manufacturer. All was normal and all batteries were charged. Great customer service too!
Ron

[Ottawa]

Not sure where you are using the Trikle, but be careful if you are leaving the MH for an extended period of time, unless it is plugged in or you have a large capacity solar panel. My first attempt saw a parasitic draw run all my batteries down, resulting in the replacement of all three.

[Wayne M]

I don't see what year/model your MH is, but on my 2008 39w (diesel) the house power and service battery power connect switches needs to be on in order for the Trik-l-start to keep them charged.

Good luck.

[Ottawa]

I think you missed my point. If you have any parasitic draws on your chassis batteries and the MH is not hooked up to another power source it will drain the charge out of your house batteries until all are dead. This can happen in a matter of days depending on the size of the parasitic draw.

[cbeierl]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

I think you missed my point. If you have any parasitic draws on your chassis batteries and the MH is not hooked up to another power source it will drain the charge out of your house batteries until all are dead. This can happen in a matter of days depending on the size of the parasitic draw.

That shouldn't happen with the TRIK-L-START, since it will not draw any power from the house batteries unless they are being charged.

[Ottawa]

That is not true. If the charge in the house batteries is higher than the charge in the chassis batteries the chassis battery will draw power from the house batteries until they are dead.

[Pusherman]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

That is not true. If the charge in the house batteries is higher than the charge in the chassis batteries the chassis battery will draw power from the house batteries until they are dead.

Not according to LSL's website:

I STORE MY MOTOR HOME WITHOUT ANY AC HOOKUPS. CAN TRIK-L-START™ BE USED TO DRAW POWER FROM MY HOUSE BATTERIES TO KEEP MY STARTING BATTERIES CHARGED? No, TRIK-L-START™ only works when there is a house battery charging source (i.e., DC power converter, inverter/charger or solar panels) present. In the absence of this charging source, TRIK-L-START™ is effectively disconnected, and doesn't supply any charge to your starting battery(s).

[Ottawa]

I guess my three dead batteries were a figment of my imagination. Good Luck you may need it.

[CJ7ole]

Blevtr,

If you just want to verify that your Trick-L-Start is charging your chassis battery, all you need to do is monitor the battery voltage from your coach monitoring panel. If your chassis battery is not being charged, the voltage on that battery will be less than 13 volts. If it is being charged, it may be less than 13 volts, but if it is charged and being maintained, the voltage will be a few tenths of a volt less than your house battery, which you know is being charged. On mine, the voltage of a recently charged chassis battery is 12.4 volts, in maintenance mode the chassis battery is held at 13.4 volts while the house battery is being charged at 13.6 volts. When the engine is running the alternator keeps it at 14.2 volts. Each one is different, so your numbers won't be the same.

[CJ7ole]

I guess my three dead batteries were a figment of my imagination. Good Luck you may need it.

I had the same concern when I installed mine. But after 4 months in storage, Wanda (my MH) fired right up. Something she didn't always do. Did you remember to hit your house battery disconnect? I also make sure my inverter is off and the step is in the off position (I reach thru the screen door opening and turn it off after the step is retracted).

[wa8yxm]

Regarding putting the Trick-L-Start where you can see the LED's

Yes, simply extend the wires out to where you want it, The current is only a few amps so you can use fairly common 14 or even 16ga wire from your local Auto Parts palce.. No problem.. The ground wire can be hooked to any handy ground.

Re: parasitic draw.. The Trick-L-Start is not the problem here

Chasis: Engine Control Computer or Emmisisons Control Computer, also Transmission control computer. These have sections (memory) that never shut off unless you disconnect the battery,,, Dash radio also has memory, and there may well be other systerms as well.

House: Several devices, Fridge, Water heater, Furnace, assorted Gas detectors (Propane/explosive, CO, Smoke) may draw power all the time, And again there are some other control systems as well.. These loads are always there,, They *MAY* shut off with the disconnect switch.... or not. Depending on the coach.

The only way to be sure is to lift the Negative lead(s) off the battery.

HINT: Before removing ANY wire from the battery.....

Ignore all battery to battery jumpers

On the cables that runn "OFF to Somewhere"

Positive end, Get a small can of RED paint or nail polish, Testor's spray works well since it's a small can.. RED And paint liberally.

On the Negative end, use Black

Result... You know how to re-connect.

[blevtr]

Reference my new Trik-L-Start. Just went out to the coach - got another recall letter from Norcold - and checked the battery voltages. 13.2 volts house, 13 volts chassis. I've never seen 13 volts after its been sitting for a week or so. Happy camper. And the recall has already been done. Happy camper with cold beer.

[RJay]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

I guess my three dead batteries were a figment of my imagination. Good Luck you may need it.

I don't think your dead batteries are a figment of your imagination just a casualty of another problem. I may be wrong but it seems to me there is a diode in the Trick L Start that prevents back feed from the chassis battery to the coach batteries since its only purpose is to charge the chassis battery. Have you spoken to the manufacturer? Even if a diode was absent there had to be a parasitic load on one of the systems(chassis or coach) to draw down the batteries, not between the batteries.

[FleetMan]

The Trick L Start does have a diode to prevent backfeed to the coach batteries, check the specs on their website. However, both the coach and chassis batteries have abundant parasitic draws on them and over time, coach specific, both sets of batteries will be drawn down if there are no recharge capabilities available.

[cliff841]

Correct me if I am wrong please. I think I will uy a Trik-L-Start. I intend to mount it in the battery compartment as I don't think there is any problem with that. Am I right?

[tom 6118]

I ordered one and I am waiting for delivery. I have a Itasca 2000 Suncruiser gasser and plan on installing it in the battery compartment using the generic install instructions provided. Is this the proper install procedure for my itasca?

[CJ7ole]

Yes, you want to mount it in the battery compartment so you have easy access to the tie solenoid.

[RJay]

Originally Posted by cliff841

Correct me if I am wrong please. I think I will uy a Trik-L-Start. I intend to mount it in the battery compartment as I don't think there is any problem with that. Am I right?

Cliff,
I put mine in the battery compartment under the steps when I had my Suncruiser. I slid it under a battery cable which held it in place. The Trik-L-Start is hermetically sealed so you don't have to worry about water getting into it.

[cliff841]

Thanks - battery compartment it is.